Friday, September 9, 2016

LEE PHARMACY TAKING BACK UNWANTED PRESCRIPTION DRUGS

Lee Pharmacy in Keosauqua accepts the return of prescription and over the counter medications during their regular hours at their pharmacy counter. Through this program over the last few years they have helped to dispose of approximately 180 pounds of medication per year. For controlled substances they now have a mail-back program that you can utilize. They will supply you with an envelope to mail those medications to a disposal service.

This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines—flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash—both pose potential safety and health hazards.

For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs contact the SAFE Coalition at 319-293-6412 or info@vbsafecoalition.com.